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Rev William Adamthwaite of Hallbank - Will written in1804

NOTES: William Adamthwaite was baptised on 24 Feb 1753 at Sedbergh. He was the eldest son of Thomas of Hallbank, and his second wife Agnes Lawrence. He was ordained as a priest in 1799.

Rev. William had married Ann Hoggard, a wealthy heiress, in 1791, but they parted and William formed a relationship with Jane McEver with whom he had a daughter Jane (who died in infancy in 1805) and a son, William Adamthwaite McEver , who must have been born at around the time this will was written, but was not baptised until 21 May 1809, the baptism record stated his date of birth was 21 sep 1806 - either this was an error, or the first son William died and Jane bore another son, also named William (however we have no record of an earlier birth or burial). Although this will is dated 22 May 1804, almost certainly with the aim of ensuring that his estate passed to his illegitimate son William, Rev William did not die until 1826, but we have no record of probate being granted.His son William, who later changed his name to William McEver Adamthwaite, married and had a large family - however he appears to have spent his later years in poverty, so perhaps he never inherited his father's estate?

WILL - dated 22 May 1804

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me WILLIAM ADAMTHWAITE of Hallbank ITPO Sedbergh … Clerk.

I give, devise and bequeath unto WILLIAM, Natural Son of me WILLIAM ADAMTHWAITE and JANE MACKEVER, his Heirs and Assigns for ever, All my Freehold Estate Si L and B at Hallbank … consisting of a Dwelling House and Cottage adjoining with two Gardens on the North side of it and one on the South Side and an Orchard on the North Side of the Turnpike road and also my Stable, Barn and Cow House and a Barn called Hunter’s Barn with all their A’s thereunto belonging and the several Closes and Inclosures of Land thereunto belonging, called … Hallbank, Corn Close, Elers, Walling Parrock, Walling Close, Crabtree, Coombank top, Coombank Bottow and Seavy Parrock, together with all and singular the Hs and A’s thereunto belonging

AND Also a House and Garden at Settlebeck ITPO Sedbergh now inhabited by JOHN TAYLOR and all my Household Furniture and Personal Property of what nature or kind so ever, To Have and To Hold the same Freehold and other Property above named to WILLIAM, my said Natural Son, … for ever whom I appoint Executor of this my L W and T